Nearly 700 million people use Facebook, but many of them complain about some of its features. Now Google has launched Google+ as an alternative social network site. Today’s Question: What part of your social network experience would you like to change?

I don’t use Facebook. Boasting about my exploits to the world and collecting “friends” (who are often friends in name only) does not sound to me like a meaningful activity. Besides, why should I entrust the security of my personal information to the integrity of a college drop-out in a hoodie who seems to believe no information should be private? And why should I risk being hacked by the minions of a plutocratic news media tycoon?

Cathy

At first, some of Facebook’s features annoyed me. Now I’ve learned how to work around them and don’t get the updates that I don’t want. I’ve tailored it to MY needs rather than what facebook would like. Contrary to the poster above, the friends I have on Facebook are truly friends so the number isn’t very big but they are people I want to share information with. There is little bragging of exploits, but pictures of kids and humorous anecdotes from work or family abound. I don’t post much personal information and I never post information or pictures I would be upset to see in the Star tribune. You need to guard your own privacy!

Social media is like any other tool, how you use it determines it’s usefulness.

Iam crying

// And why should I risk being hacked by the minions of a plutocratic news media tycoon?

Chuck

Don’t use any social networking. If folks really knew what happens to the stuff they post, they wouldn’t use it either.

barracuda

Gosh, a question about social media getting self-righteous responses from non users? I would never have expected such a thing….

Cathy gets it right: Facebook & such sites are tools. Use them appropriately, and you don’t have any problems. As a way of staying in touch with friends/acquaintances, social networking services are distinct from email or telephone. Each has advantages and disadvantages. Pick the one best suited to your desired goal.

jeremy

I want to own my data. Maybe i’ll let Facebook use that data, but i should be able to take my data elsewhere if I want.

Greg

“Data” ownership. I recoginize that facebook users are NOT customers. Were the cattle, the …. product. If they are selling access to 700 million “me’s” product … they should ask the 700 million “me’s” about things they plan to change – BEFORE they change it. Treat your crop well and it goes to market well. Treat your heard bad .. and we’ll taste bitter in the mouth of your paying customers. Maybe we better mosy on along to some other ranch. It takes only minutes.

Greg

TOMORROWS’ QUESTION – Rupert Murdochs NewsCorp is implicated in the use of data-hacking into personal and business phone/accounts. Do you think that his FOX NEWS is doing the same thing in America?

Kevin VC

Well the ADS on facebook are annoying, and they are getting a little better at removing ‘malware’ ads that sneak in….

But still the occasional ad forces a install of a fake Anti-virus… Any good protection on a system will alert you and stop it, but not always.

Google+ has it a little better. Especially with the ability to create circles, thus posts are not always seen by everyone. In a way this makes ‘groups’ that are informal.

We will also see if Google is a little better about hacked accounts, I know they are on the email side, although it takes time Google is thorough about returning accounts properly.

Facebook group ‘Save StarGate Universe’ with 60,000 followers was hacked. No one at Facebook would help, and actually said it is impossible to have hacked unless one of the admins gave the access/allowed. It literally took Mark Z to step in and return when he learned, as he was a fan of the page as well.

CF

I don’t use Facebook, or any other social network, and never will. While my privacy continues to be eroded by the government and ESPECIALLY employers(!), why would I volunteer my personal information to Facebook and have it scattered all over the Internet?

Bear

@ James “Nice question, it applies to about 1.7% of the population.

Where does MPR pull these questions from?”

∑

DTOM

Maybe it’s is you who is in the minority or living under a rock … used appropriately social media has become a useful and valid communications tool … even President Obama used a social media channel for a modern version of a town hall meeting, a very successfully engagement all constituents, Democrat and Republican alike … who is laughing at Twitter now?

I don’t use Facebook. I keep in touch with the people in my life that actually mean something to me. I don’t feel compelled to tell so called “friends” my personal business and I really am not that interested in knowing their business either.

Drae

I don’t use social networking sites because I insist on being paid for my time as a marketing research tool.

I’d like to be able to trust Facebook’s privacy settings, and know that the things I post to “friends only” aren’t floating around out there, appearing on search engines. Unfortunately, Facebook has burned that bridge many times already.